The Russian Embassy in North Korea says it has welcomed new personnel for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Moscow is expected to work to bolster ties with Pyongyang amid the growing rift between Russia and Western nations over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The embassy said in a social media post on Thursday that 20 diplomats and technical employees arrived at the Pyongyang international airport earlier in the day.

The post said that there is a lot of work ahead, with the Russian state setting new tasks for the embassy. But it does not mention exactly what the tasks are.

The post carried a photograph of Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora and other officials standing in front of the embassy.

Many foreign diplomats left North Korea because of the pandemic. In February 2021, a group of Russian diplomats and family members exited North Korea for Russia on a hand-pushed rail trolley due to Pyongyang's strict anti-coronavirus measures.